Dr. Mary Amoako (nee Adjepong) is a lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Nutrition unit).  She obtained a doctoral degree from Michigan State University, an MPhil in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from KNUST and a professional certification as a Registered Dietician from the Allied Health Professions Council, Ghana. She is a founding member of the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics where she serves as the committee member on the advocacy committee.

Her research interests focus on Food security, improving health and nutrition outcomes among Ghanaians, through nutrition and lifestyle. She has conducted research on the causes of maternal mortality in Ghana and antioxidant nutrition among burns (thermally injured) patients. Her lab also studies various facets of chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, stunting, cognition deficits) and its intervention (prevention and treatment) in infants, children and adults. With her expertise in whole blood fatty acid and food analysis, she has conducted research studies on the role of fatty acids in growth and cognitive function in Ghanaian children.

Currently, her laboratory is exploring the role of nutrition in the progression of chronic complications in individuals in the life cycle especially women and children. An understanding of health behaviors especially in conditions of heightened stress is key for promoting the development of lifelong healthy habits. This is why her adult nutrition laboratory is investigating the role of COVID-19 on nutrition and health behaviors in Ghanaian university students; the role of diet in the progression of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes is another area of interest. In addition, her women’s nutrition lab is assessing the relationships between dietary diversity, food security, folic acid supplement use and anemia among women of reproductive age. Further, her work with nursing mothers focuses on complementary feeding practices among mothers and its effects of the nutritional status of the children. Her infant nutrition lab is investigating the association between nutritional status and linear growth, cognition and visual acuity in 2–5-year-old. We are also investigating childhood obesity and its relationships with cognition.  In the past we have worked on the association between essential fatty acids in growth and cognition in Ghana Ghanaian children. The results of the study indicated that some omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with linear growth and better cognition. We also assessed the fatty acid content of seeds, nuts and oil for nutritional intervention. Collaboration with food scientists is ongoing to produce a snack product that is rich in essential fatty acid, vitamins and minerals to be used in supplementing diets for infants and children to improve growth, cognition and ocular health

Taking the proceeds of research into the community is her utmost goal hence she participates in a number of community engagements such as nutrition education on various platforms (University, Churches, radio etc) and even on national television. She is also a co-founder and Nutrition Consultant of a firm involved in nutrition advocacy and consultancy, with a focus on medical nutrition therapy for non-communicable diseases while guiding individuals, families and organizations to make healthy dietary and lifestyle choices. She has facilitated conference workshops and mentored a number of graduate and undergraduate students as well as senior high school students partnering with Mastercard Foundation and Women in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (WISTEM-Gh). She has received several awards including the British Council Job for Youth (Incubator), the BHEARD scholarship. Dr Mary Adjepong has currently won Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World Grant funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Grants:

1. Borlaug LEAP fellowship grant – $20,000 – 2016-2017
2. OWSD early career fellowship grant – $50,000 in January/February 2023